Lenny (onion) Sears has put this fantasic video together for your viewing pleasure.

This classic 50-minute DVD, through historic television news footage and live interviews, tracks the history of this iconic frigate of the New Zealand Navy from her launching in Scotland on 22nd October 1971 right through to her final voyage from Lyttleton to Auckland in readiness for decommissioning on 31 March 2005.

This is a 'must have' for all crew members, naval history enthusiasts and those with a love of the sea.

The cost is $19.95 for the DVD

Freight:  Parcel Post Nationwide    $3.50 + Packing $2.00  = $5.50

              FastPost Nationwide     $4.25 + Packing $2.00  = $6.25

             Courier TrackPak in A5 Bubble Bag without signature  = $6.15

            Courier TrackPak in A5 Bubble Bag requiring signature  = $8.25

Order your HMNZS Canterbury video at www.canterbury.9ax.net

On the 5th of May 2005 the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association (NZNTVA)  unveiled this Plaque in the Naval Chapel at the Naval Base, Devonport, Auckland. The plaque is in memory of all Veterans who served at Nuclear Weapon Test Sites

The Protest ships and their ships plaques that deployed to Mururoa in 1973

It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon.

There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate with sixteen round indentations, called a Monkey. But if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it.

The solution to the rusting problem was to make Brass Monkeys. Few land lubbers realise that brass contracts much more and faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.

Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, you thought that was a vulgar expression, didn't you? 

Old Steam Warship prepared for Sinking 

(nzpa/Saturday, 24 February 2007)

The well-worn and rusty hulk of the Navy's last steam warship has arrived at its new berth in the Bay of Islands before it becomes the country's latest dive attraction this year.

The Leader-class frigate, the former HMNZS Canterbury, was towed up the east coast from the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland yesterday to Opua in the Bay of Islands where it will be stripped of anything valuable in the next few months. 

The 37-year-old ship was decommissioned by the Navy two years ago and sold to the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust for $1 last year.

The 3000-tonne, 113 metre ship is to be sunk in Deep Water Cove near Cape Brett at the northern end of the Bay of Islands, probably in October or November.

The ship would be berthed at the Opua Wharf, the same wharf where a sister ship, the former HMNZS Waikato was berthed before it was sunk several years ago as a dive attraction off Ngunguru.

Canterbury will be the third leander class frigate to be sunk for diving around the coast of New Zealand. 

Canterbury (F421) is finally for divers only now. 

(3rd November 2007)

The following are pictures of 'Canterbury' being sent to the bottom of Deep Water Cove to attract divers and sea life. 

I, along with others, tried to have the frigate 'Canterbury' saved as a monument and have the Navy Museum aboard it. We where not successful in that venture, as you can see.

Thanks to the Royal New Zealand Naval Association (RNZNA) website.